WASHINGTON May 23, 2005 — Centrists from both parties reached a compromise Monday night to avoid a showdown on President Bush's stalled judicial nominees and the Senate's own filibuster rules, officials from both parties said.

These officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the agreement would clear the way for yes or no votes on some of Bush's nominees, but make no guarantee.

Under the agreement, Democrats would pledge not to filibuster any of Bush's future appeals court or Supreme Court nominees except in "extraordinary circumstance

This is a major defeat for the theocrats.

This is what happens when amateurs play at politics. Dobson was under the delusion that he could control the Senate with his money and Bill Frist's dick in his pocket. This didn't work.

The Dems don't have the bodies to challenge and win this outright, which is why the wingnuts Brown and Owen will get their votes. But Frist looks weak and indecisive and most importantly foolish.

First, the Schiavo mess, then failing to even control his own caucus. What kind of weak leadership is he providing? Making an alliance with the antischrist and failing is not a good way to get support in the future.

Of course, there's a lot of whining about how the Dems don't fight, but part of fighting is to know when to not fight. Like the Schiavo mess, the GOP had set a trap, this time, undone by their own side.

Their reward will, of course, to be challenged by Dobson's lackies in their next race. If successful, we should get some seats back.

But the Democratic leadership looks sane and rational here. They're the ones who drove the compromise and worked with Republican moderates. The Republican leadership wanted to shut the Senate down to get their way. Who are more effective leaders? Frist, who is in the pocket of extremists, or Reid, who can lead his party to compromise.

Update: Wingnut breakdown. They are screaming about not giving money to the GOP, calling McCain a traitor (think about the irony of that) and other such nonsense. Frei Republik, She-bitch Goldberg, Assrocket, they're all screaming about the great GOP sellout.

Laugh along as you read the comments from the She-bitch site:

You dishonorable senators have betrayed my President. I despise what you have done and am pledging my utmost to get you out of MY GOVERNMENT.

Your egos are laughable on T.V. We DON'T value what you have done so stop acting like you just did something great.

McCain, Warner, these guys have grown old and have lost all testosterone. These are two invertebrates who we need to be rid of. Maybe McCain thinks he won't run again due to health reasons. But they have certainly cooked their own gooses in the Republican Party. Out with them. Get out the recall petitions. I can't sign, but I'll send money for an opponent.

I heard the "Plagerist" Biden on Hugh's show a bit ago and he considered Gingsberg a moderate. That tells you all you need to know about who they consider extremists on the right-anyone right of her. This is a bad deal that is going to explode right in the faces of these moderates.